Vandals who have damaged the life rings besides the lakes at Highbridge’s Apex Park are putting lives at risk, Sedgemoor District Council has said this week.
Several of the distinctive red rings have been removed from their holders and the emergency telephone number on them has been obscured, as pictured here.
The council says that having such equipment immediately available near the lakes is vital for safety.
Council spokeswoman Claire Faun told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Sedgemoor District Council is appalled that the majority of the lifesaving equipment in Apex Park has been removed, the remaining equipment has been tampered with, and that the emergency number has been obscured.”
“It is absolutely mindless vandalism and people’s lives are put in danger. It only takes a seconds for someone to become unconscious from drowning and only a couple of minutes for someone to die if they are not resuscitated. Having this equipment immediately near the water is paramount for everyone’s safety.”
Sedgemoor District Council’s Clean Surroundings staff is replacing the life rings and units as soon as possible.
